It may have just become easier to change jobs in Qatar

Officials in Qatar have apparently softened requirements on expats who wish to switch employers inside the country.

The move comes a month after a new law that relaxes no objection certificate requirements took effect.

In late December, Qatar’s labor ministry published a list of conditions that needed to be met for an expat to change employers.

Pixabay

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Pixabay

Among the more controversial provisions was a sort of retirement requirement that stated foreigners must be under the age of 60 years old.

Additionally, residents were told they can only work for companies that have an approved visa to hire them.

This is because authorities in Qatar are very specific when granting work visas to businesses based on profession, nationality and gender.

Provisions removed

Both provisions had drawn swift criticism from residents.

Many complained that the new law was too complicated and didn’t actually make it easier to change jobs.

However, the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor & Social Affairs now appears to have removed both the age and the approved visa requirements from its list, which it just tweeted again on Wednesday.

The same day, QNA reported that Qatar’s Cabinet approved a draft executive regulation to Law No. 21 of 2015 on the entry, exit, and residence of expatriates.

It said the draft included provisions about “the controls of entry and exit of expatriates, work and non-work residence permits, visits, the entry and sailors, transit pass, return, residence permits and others.”

Other change

This is the second change to the law that officials have made in the past few weeks.

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